The Seattle U men's and women's swim teams earned the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team Award for their academic work in the...

Courtesy: Eric Badeau...

Seattle U Swim Teams Earn CSCAA Academic Awards

The Seattle University men's and women's swimming teams showcased their classroom skills during the 2012 spring quarter, posting combined grade point averages in the top 10 among fellow Division I programs as they received the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Team Awards, announced Tuesday by the national organization.

The Redhawk men's swim team finished in a tie for sixth among Division I schools with a 3.35 combined grade point average, the highest team GPA for a school west of the Mississippi River. Only Yale, Eastern Illinois, Harvard, Dartmouth, and Villanova posted higher GPAs than Seattle U for men's swimming. In all, 69 NCAA Division I men's swim programs earned the academic honor.

The Seattle U women's swim team also combined for the highest GPA among Division I schools west of the Mississippi, finishing seventh overall with a cumulative grade point average of 3.54. The Redhawks finished behind only Clemson, Alabama, Northwestern, East Carolina, Evansville, and Ohio State. Seattle U is one of 130 Division I women's swim programs honored for their academic work.

"I am so proud of what both teams have accomplished this season. Ranking in the top 10 in the nation academically was something that we spoke about back in September. Both teams put this down as a major goal and did everything to make sure it was achieved," Seattle U head swimming coach Craig Nisgor said. "To have accomplished this, have an Olympic Trials qualifier, a great class of freshman coming in, and everything else that the team did this year just lets us know that the future of Seattle University swimming is looking strong, and we are excited for next year."

The Scholar All America Team award is presented to college and university swimming and diving teams who have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The award is presented to teams achieving this standard in the fall semester and in the semester of the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships (Winter/Spring).

The Seattle University men's swim team will remain in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while the women's swim squad will compete as part of the Western Athletic Conference. The MPSF Men's Swimming and Diving Championships are scheduled for Feb. 20-23 in Long Beach, Calif., while the WAC Women's Swimming and Diving Championships will take place Feb. 27 to March 2 at the Palo Alto Natatorium in San Antonio, Texas.